INDUSTRY is facing a major problem because young people in Wales are "indulging" in mysticism and New Age leanings.

INDUSTRY is facing a major problem because young people in Wales are "indulging" in mysticism and New Age leanings.

That is the view of chemical scientist Cedric Mumford who warned yesterday of a tendency among youngsters towards "New Age, anti-science superstition".

He said the beliefs drew students away from science and industry, which was facing a shortage of chemistry graduates.

Dr Mumford, former chairman of the Royal Society of Chemistry's South East Wales section, said, "In South Wales it is difficult to raise interest in science because of the strong tendency of people to believe in herbalism, alternative medicine, psychic readings, Tarot cards, Arthurianism and the like.

"The tourism industry encourages these beliefs in the hope that visitors will be attracted to this mystic culture and spend their money on New Age products much as they do at Glastonbury.

"Part of this impression is gained from conversations, newspaper articles and from attending city and country fairs where many anti-science groups have stalls. I have also seen tokens left at medieval pilgrims' wells and stone circles."

He added, "The need to encourage the young to embrace and relish science at school and at university has never been more acute. Welsh industry needs chemical scientists, Britain generally needs them and so does Europe, which is now haemorrhaging research talent to the USA.

"These popular distractions related to superstition and legend might provide wonderful entertainment and themes for books, theatre and film but that should be the limit of their appeal.

"When the young of Wales show overdue interest in fantasy to the detriment of real science then we are faced with a major problem that must be addressed."

Sara Reid, Assistant Children's Commissioner for Wales, said, "While we are aware there is an interest in such matters among the general population at the moment, and of course films such as Lord of the Rings and television programmes such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Spellbound appeal especially to older children and young people, we haven't been aware of an unusual level of interest among those we have been in contact with.

"In fact, members of our Backchat e-mail group haven't raised such matters so far. Dr Mumford's view is an interesting one, but it would be even more interesting to find out whether young people feel that in exploring unconventional ideas and seeking answers to life's mysteries on one level, they are rejecting scientific knowledge on another."

Gethin Lewis, secretary of NUT Cymru, the largest teaching union in Wales, said he was not aware of any increase in the type of interests described by Dr Mumford. "As he is a scientist he would need to show what the evidence is," said Mr Lewis. "I think he is looking at this from a non-scientific way of generalisation."

Earlier this week, Swansea University announced plans for restructuring which include proposals to phase out departments including chemistry.

Dr Mumford said, "It is bad enough to see Swansea University throw chemistry overboard, with its fine track record particularly in mass spectrometry, where it is a world leader, but current attitudes to quasi-religious beliefs make the picture even more worrying."

The Royal Society of Chemistry's chief executive, Dr David Giachardi, said, "We believe that the mooted closure of Swansea's chemistry department undermines UK national and local economic needs and will diminish the opportunity for facilitating access to higher education by local chemistry students."

Mr Lewis said fewer graduate courses in the sciences would add to the problem.

A spokeswoman for the university said the plans included redirecting resources from subjects with declining student demand and allowed the university to focus on its strengths.